title: Ion-induced fragmentation of amino acids: effect of the environment.
abstract: In general, radiation-induced fragmentation of small amino acids is governed by the cleavage of the C-C(α) bond. We present results obtained with 300 keV Xe(20+) ions that allow molecules (glycine and valine) to be ionised at large distances without appreciable energy transfer. Also in the present case, the C-C(α) bond turns out to be the weakest link and hence its scission is the dominant fragmentation channel. Intact ionised molecules are observed with very low intensities. When the molecules are embedded in a cluster of amino acids, a protective effect of the environment is observed. The fragmentation pattern changes: the C-C(α) bond becomes more protected and stable amino acid cations are observed as fragments of the molecular clusters. Evidently, the molecular cluster acts as a "buffer" for the excess energy, capable of rapidly redistributing excess energy and charge.
authors.affiliation: CIMAP, CEA/CNRS/ENSICAEN, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP 5133, F-14070 Caen cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maclot
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capron
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maisonny
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ławicki
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Méry
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rangama
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chesnel
authors.forename: Sadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: Ronnie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schlathölter
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manil
authors.forename: Lamri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adoui
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: Bernd A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D004735:Energy Transfer; D005998:Glycine / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D014633:Valine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D014633:Valine; D005998:Glycine